WWR manual chapter 1

1 Introduction

"The test of Truth", the wildwater time trial is the purest of whitewater racing forms - the athlete, the river, the clock. A racing performance is the result of physical conditioning, skill and harmony with the water and is the only sport where social paddling is necessary to achieve a peak performance. Beautiful water, scenery and companionship make the Wild Water Racing experience compelling. The competitor is free to take whichever route on the river they desire, a freedom of racing unsurpassed in the whitewater world.

The sense of speed and exhilaration when a sequence of moves are made in whitewater is immense; waves, rocks, spectators fly past in a blur of concentration and elation - the satisfaction of a 'clean and fast' run can be achieved by all competitors, from the world champion to the beginning racer. All strive for the ultimate run - and come back for more.

Athletes come to Wild Water Racing with a range of different skills and
knowledge. Some athletes will progress quite well with the skills they
already have, but without the foundation that all the core skills
provide, it is difficult to provide the platform onto which further
Elite WWR skills can be built (Figure 1‑1).

When all the components of these 3 areas are in place an athlete will
be a ‘complete’ Wild Water Racer and likely to get the most enjoyment
from Wild Water Racing and potentially move on to build further Elite
WWR skills.
This manual, in conjunction with the Wild Water Racing Development
Academy’s athlete syllabus, aims to highlight the full range of skills
and knowledge that create the platform of core skills.

This manual is intended as a guide to coaches of Wild Water Racing, and
will hopefully reinforce the knowledge of coaches as well as fill in
any gaps in knowledge. The approach and vocabulary of the manual is
being used at national level. By sharing this approach and vocabulary,
athletes who progress to national squad level will already have a good
foundation and communication path established.

Whilst the manual is intended for coaches, it can be used equally well by athletes themselves.

The manual will continue to grow as new knowledge and new approaches
are developed. Contributions to improve or add sections to the manual
are welcomed.